OKTOBERFEST 2022
We have just returned from a week long tour to Germany visiting the two largest beer festivals in Germany, Munich’s Oktoberfest and Stuttgart’s Cannstatter Volksfest. Following 2 years of cancellations and postponements, we finally set out on September 19 for Munich. There were many liters of beer that were consumed and we say Ein Prosit! and Sweet Caroline too many time to count!
Day 1, included welcoming all of the 8 travelers at the airport and concluded with a traditional German meal at a restaurant in the heart of Munich’s Historical Center.
Day 2, we put on our lederhosen and it was all about eating, riding rides, singing German beer fest songs, and drinking beer! Oktoberfest takes place within Munich, Germany and is called the Wiesn (pronounced: vee-zin). Its full name is actually Theresienwiese, but you won’t hear anyone call it that. The Wiesn is the large park—or as we would call it here in the U.S., the “fairgrounds”. We enjoyed a table reservation at the Schützen-Festzelt Tent, featuring Löwenbräu Oktoberfestbier.
Day 3, we made a morning stop in the Marienplatz dominated by the New City Hall (Neues Rathaus) on the north side, and the Old City Hall (Altes Rathaus) on the east side. The Glockenspiel in the tower of the Neues Rathaus was inspired by the tournaments that were held in the square during the Middle Ages, and draws millions of tourists a year. We then did a walk-thru of THE Hofbraühaus, before heading out to the Wiesn. We enjoyed a table reservation at the Fischer Vroni Tent, featuring Augustiner-Bräu.
Day 4, we packed up, boarder our private Sprinter Van and headed north to Rothenburg ob der Tauber for a relaxing day.
- Rothenburg ob der Tauber is a town in the region of Bavaria, Germany, well known for its well-preserved medieval old town. In the Middle Ages, it was an Imperial Free City. The name “Rothenburg ob der Tauber” is actually a shortened version of “Rothenburg oberhalb der Tauber”, which in German means “Rothenburg over the Tauber”. this is because the town is located on top of a mount overlooking the Tauber river. As to the name “Rothenburg”, some say it comes from the German words Rot (Red) and Burg (burg, medieval fortified town), referring to the red color of the roofs of the houses which overlook the river.
We enjoyed exploring the town, visiting the Christmas Store, walking the medieval town wall and finished up with dinner at the Ratsstube, enjoy the take the celebrated “Night Watchman Tour” and capping off the day drinking a beer at Zur HölI – literally meaning “to hell” – a bar in a fabulous building built in 900 AD.
Day 5, we again packed up and make our way to Stuttgart for Germany’s 2nd largest Bier Festival, the Cannstatter Volksfest. When we arrived in Stuttgart we first visited the Mercedes Museum, celebrating the automobile invented by Carl Benz in 1886, with more than 160 vehicles ranging from some of the oldest automobiles ever built to legendary racing cars and futuristic research vehicles.
We then enjoyed the Cannstatter Volksfest Opening Ceremony featuring Stuttgart‘s Lord Mayor opening the 175th Cannstatter Volksfest with the traditional keg tapping in the festival tent “Dinkelacker Klauss & Klauss Festwirte”
- Only after the successful tapping of the barrel does the serving of beer begin in all festival tents and catering establishments. Gunshots at the fruit column and beadles with bells announce that the barley juice may flow into the mugs
We enjoyed a table reservation at the Sonja Merz Tent, featuring Stuttgarter Hofbräu Volksfest Beer
Day 6, On our final day of the tour we enjoyed one last day of festivities at the Cannstatter Volksfest. We enjoyed a table reservation at the Wilhelmer’s “SchwabenWelt” Tent, featuring Schwaben Bräu, spending the day eating, riding rides, singing German beer fest songs, and drinking beer while soaking in one last day of“Gemütlichkeit” and revelry!
Day 7, we all departed and went our operate way. Some people extended their trip to further explore Europe, while others boarded flights back to the US.
It was a trip that will be remembered for a lifetime, friends were made, songs were sung, and beer was consumed while soaking in the “Gemütlichkeit” and revelry! Until SEPTEMBER 2023… Auf wiedersehen
